From Survivor to Vanisher

Aditya strolled through the bustling streets of the city, his pouch of celestial gold coins jingling with every step. The rare beast bag he had won hung casually from his waist, drawing a few envious glances from passersby. He ignored them, his mind focused on a singular goal: an alchemy shopping spree.

The marketplace was a chaotic symphony of colors, sounds, and scents. Stalls lined the streets, vendors shouting to advertise their wares. Aditya felt a thrill of excitement as he surveyed the scene. This was his domain—a place where knowledge and wit outweighed brute strength.

Aditya stopped at a modest stall piled high with dried herbs and powders. The vendor, a wiry old man with a mischievous glint in his eye, greeted him with a toothy grin.

"What catches your eye, young master?" the vendor asked, rubbing his hands together.

Aditya pointed to a bundle of dark green leaves. "Those. What are they?"

The vendor hesitated. "Ah, those are Shadow vine leaves. Very rare, very potent. Excellent for healing salves."

Aditya raised an eyebrow. "Healing? These are Shadow vine, all right, but they're not for healing. They're a key ingredient for paralysis poison when mixed with fire salt. But you didn't know that, did you?"

The vendor's grin faltered. "I... uh..."

"I'll take the whole bundle for five celestial gold coins," Aditya said, his voice firm.

"Five? They're worth at least fifty!"

Aditya leaned closer, his tone dropping. "To you, maybe. But to someone who knows their true use? They're just weeds. Take the deal, or I'll start educating your other customers."

The vendor sighed, reluctantly handing over the bundle. "Fine. Five it is."

Aditya smirked as he tucked the leaves into his beast bag. "Pleasure doing business with you."

Further down the street, Aditya spotted a stall overflowing with potted plants. The vendor, a bored-looking teenager, barely glanced up as Aditya approached.

"Anything special here?" Aditya asked, scanning the wares.

"Just some herbs and flowers," the boy muttered. "Nothing fancy."

Aditya's eyes gleamed as he recognized several rare specimens. Nightshade, Bloodroot, and even a tiny sprout of Venom flower—plants most people dismissed as ornamental but were invaluable for crafting poisons.

"How much for this one?" Aditya asked, pointing to the Venom flower.

The boy shrugged. "Two silver coins."

Aditya fought to keep his expression neutral. "Two silver? Seems overpriced for something so... common."

"Common?" the boy scoffed. "Fine, make it one silver."

Aditya handed over the coin, barely able to contain his excitement. He quickly purchased the other plants, each for a pittance, and stashed them in his beast bag.

As he walked away, he couldn't help but chuckle. "If only they knew the gold mine they were sitting on. Ignorance really is bliss."

Aditya's next stop was a dusty old shop tucked away in a quiet corner of the marketplace. The sign above the door read, "Curios and Oddities."

Inside, the air was thick with the smell of parchment and incense. Shelves crammed with jars, scrolls, and trinkets lined the walls.

An elderly woman with sharp eyes and a crooked smile greeted him. "Looking for something specific, or just browsing?"

"Alchemy materials," Aditya replied, his eyes scanning the shelves.

She nodded. "You've come to the right place. But fair warning—I don't deal in cheap goods."

Aditya picked up a small vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid. "What's this?"

"Essence of Frost spike," the woman said. "Perfect for crafting ice-based attacks or suppressing fire poisons."

"How much?"

"Two hundred celestial gold coins."

Aditya set the vial down with a laugh. "I'd need to sell my kidneys for that price. Got anything less... dramatic?"

The woman chuckled. "You've got a sharp tongue. Fine, let's see what we can find for your budget."

After some haggling, Aditya walked out with several rare ingredients, including a pouch of powdered Moonshadow and a jar of Green Ember Sap.